Autumn 2008 - Virginia Society of Landscape Designers

Quarterly Newsletter for the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers
VSLDn e w s
P r e sident’s Message
A u t u mn 200 8
Dear VSLD Members,
T h e e c o n o m y h a s a ff e c t e d m y b u s i n e s s and many
r e l a t e d p r o f e s s i o n s . S o I h o p e t h a t a l l V S L D members
a r e a b l e t o s u r v i v e t h i s s l o w d o w n . T h e f a l l garden is
a w o n d e r f u l r e t r e a t t o r e f l e c t o n o u r b l e s sings. The
g o l d e n c o l o r s o f t h e s u n o n f a l l l e a v e s , t h e asters in
b l o o m a n d t h e p u m p k i n s t h a t p o p u p t h i s t i me of year
o n d o o r s t e p s h e l p k e e p m e c e n t e r e d o n t h e cycles of
t h e s e a s o n – a n d t h a t a s l o w s e a s o n i s o f t e n f ollowed by
a b us y o n e .
Check us out
on the web at:
w w w. v s l d . o rg
CONTENTS
President’s Message
1-2
Treasurer’s Report
2
Secretary’s Report
2
VSLD Boothwatch
3
Upcoming Events
4
Glossary of Green Terms
5
VSLD Winter Meeting
6-7
VSLD Design Contest
8
Obituary
9
Mid-Atlantic Short Course 10
Member Bulletin Board
11
Edible Landscaping
11
I t i s g o o d t o n o t e t h a t o u r m e m b e r s h i p h a s increased
t o 1 0 3 c e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s p l u s 6 n e w c e r t i f i e d members
w e r e a p p r o v e d a t o u r B o a r d m e e t i n g O c t o b e r 21st. We
h a v e a r e c o r d 2 8 s t u d e n t m e m b e r s . T h a n k y ou to those
o f y o u w h o e n c o u r a g e d e s i g n e r s a n d s t u d e nts to join
o u r a s s o c i a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e o f y o u w h o teach in
design programs.
O u r l a rg e b o o t h h a s a n e w b a n n e r a n d canopy. In
a d d i t i o n S c o t t C r e a r y h a s p u r c h a s e d a d i g i tal picture
f r a m e o n a t r i p o d a n d d e v e l o p e d a s l i d e s h o w that can
b e pl a y e d c o n t i n u o u s l y w h i l e v o l u n t e e r s a r e working
t h e b o o t h . S e t t o m u s i c , i t i s i m p r e s s i v e ! Members
w h o v o l u n t e e r c a n e a s i l y i n s e r t t h e i r m e m o ry card to
p l a y t h e i r o w n s l i d e s h o w.
Ch r i s C o e n h a s w o r k e d t i r e l e s s l y a t o rg anizing the
b o o t h s : S i g n i n g u p v o l u n t e e r s a n d o v e r s e e ing trans p o r t a t i o n o f t h e b o o t h t o e v e n t s . C h r i s i s m oving from
Vi rgi n i a n e x t s u m m e r. E v e Wi l l i s h a s v o l u nteered to
h e l p f i l l t h i s p o s i t i o n , b u t n e e d s h e l p . We would like
a c o m m i t t e e t o h a n d l e t h e b o o t h a r r a n g e m ents, and I
u rg e y o u t o c o n s i d e r h e l p i n g E v e . C h r i s i s willing to
help us with the transition!
Denise Harg r a v e s h a s o rg a n i z e d o u r w i n t e r m e e t i n g f o r F e b r u a r y 7 t h to be held
in my home to w n ! F r e d e r i c k s b u rg i s a f u n p l a c e t o e x p l o r e , s o I h o p e y o u will stay
on a nd visit be f o r e o r a f t e r t h e l u n c h e o n m e e t i n g . I t w i l l h e l d a t t h e G a r i Melchers
home and stud i o a n d t h e p a v i l l i o n f o r t h e e v e n t c a n b e s e e n a t :
http://www.um w. e d u / g a r i _ m e l c h e r s / f a c i l i t y _ r e n t a l / d e f a u l t . p h p
Registration fo r m s a r e i n t h e n e w s l e t t e r.
One of the h i g h l i g h t s o f t h e wi n t e r m e e t i n g i s t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t o f the design
contest winner s . D o c o n s i d e r e n t e r i n g – t h e c a t e g o r i e s h a v e b e e n t w e a k e d which I
hope will enco u r a g e m o r e m e m b e r s t o e n t e r t h i s y e a r. E n t r y f o r m s c a n be downloaded from th e V S L D w e b s i t e .
Peggy Krapf i s o rg a n i z i n g o u r 2 0 0 9 s u m m e r t o u r. We w i l l
be visiting the E a s t e r n S h o r e . O n e o f t h e g a r d e n s w e w i l l
visit was desig n e d b y O e h m e a n d Va n S w e d e n . M o r e d e t a i l s
will be availab l e a t t h e w i n t e r m e e t i n g .
One of the b l e s s i n g s I a m g r a t e f u l f o r i s t h e v o l u n t e e r s
who have com e f o r w a r d t o h e l p r u n t h e a s s o c i a t i o n . M y
board members , c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s a n d t o u r o rg a n i z e r s a r e
all enthusiasti c a n d e a s y p e o p l e t o w o r k w i t h . T h a n k y o u
all!
Photo Courtesy of Tiffany McCord
Margaret
RTUR
Secret ar y ’s Repor t
Treasurer’s Report
Jane Abbott
Membership Totals as of October 21, 2008
Nanette Parsons
As of 9/30/08
Checking Account Savings Account $16,371.10
$ 8, 083.84
TOTAL FUNDS
$24,454.94
Associate Members
Certified Members
Honorary members
Liaison Members
Student Members
Total:
Please send any comments, articles, upcoming events, and pictures to
Tiffany McCord, newsletter editor at [email protected].
2
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3
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153
VSLD BOOTHWATCH
–the–
Autumn 2008 edition
by Chris Coen, VSLD Booth Coordinator
[email protected] / 804-475-6767
A great big thank you to the VSLDers who made our two-inone-day booth appearance work! I was at the Lewis Ginter
Botanical Garden’s fall plant sale, and would concur with
other booth workers that the attendees were definitely plantoriented. Remember, when you’re working a venue like
this, that you need to make an effort to turn the attendees’
eyes to our booth as well as to the plant vendors’ booths.
That might mean approaching members of the crowd,
stepping out in front of the booth to greet people, or the
like. Remember that you’re marketing yourself and VSLD
and be positive and friendly. Offer to answer the attendees’
questions, and often you’ll discover that the people passing
by are pleased to have that conversational ice-breaker.
2009
Virginia Turfgrass Council
CONFERENCE
and
TRADE SHOW
January 12-15
• Education for YOUR
needs
• Expanded Trade Show
• Networking
Opportunities
And, as some folks rightly pointed out, we’ll need to work
harder at these plant-sale venues to “beautify” the booth.
The set-up was fairly no-nonsense this time. Your thoughts
and suggestions on this are welcome!
We’ll shortly be into the winter season, which means the
Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course and the Maymont
Flower Show (co-located once more, I believe, with the
home show). We have dates and times for the Maymont
show, so it’s not too early to sign up for some of those booth
slots. Let’s have some new faces step forward and help
introduce the public to VSLD! You get into the show for
free, you can attend the lectures offered in conjunction with
the show, and if you’re a certified member you get one CEU
for each hour you work the booth.
• Re-certification
Credits (GCSAA,
STMA, Pesticides, and
others)
• Free Trade Show Pass
Coupon inside
• Held at the
Fredericksburg Expo
and Conference
Center
Virginia Turfgrass Council
PO Box 5989, Va Beach, VA 23471
Phone: (757) 464-1004
www.vaturf.org
[email protected]
And, as always, if you know of a venue where you think the booth would be appropriate and where we
can get enough participation from local members to work it, let me or someone else on the board know
– we sent the booth this fall to a new venue at the request of a member and would love to broaden our
reach as an organization.
February 19 - 22, 2009
Spring 2009
Maymont Flower & Garden Show
***VOLUNTEERS NEEDED***
Spring Plant Sale at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
***VOLUNTEERS NEEDED***
3
RICHMOND
RICHMOND
UPCOMING EVENTS
FALL 2008 / SPRING 2009
December 4-5, 2008 GREAT SOUTHERN TREE CONFERENCE
Sponsored by the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association and the University
of Florida/IFAS
www.greatsoutherntreeconference.org
January 7-9, 2009
MID-ATLANTIC NURSERY TRADE SHOW (MANTS)
Baltimore, MD
www.mants.com
January 25-30
MID-ATLANTIC HORTICULTURE SHORT COURSE
The Founders Inn & Spa, Virginia Beach, VA
Contact: 757-523-4734
[email protected] www.vahort.org
January 31
HORTICULTURE MAGAZINE SYMPOSIUM
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, VA
February 1-8
GARDENS OF THE CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Dr. Bonnie Appleton, Hostess for the Norfolk Botanical Garden
Contact: 757-546-1010
[email protected]
February 4-6
GARDENING IN AN ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE: IS THE SKY REALLY FALLING?
Presented by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the Central Virginia Nursery &
Landscape Association at the Massey Conference Center, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden,
Richmond, VA
February 7
VSLD WINTER MEETING
Doors open 11:30am at the Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg, VA
February 12
26th ANNUAL CENTRAL VIRGINIA LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
Sponsored by the Piedmont Landscape Association at the Martin Luther King Performing
Arts Center
Charlottesville, VA
February 19-22
MAYMONT FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA
www.MacEvents.com
March 1-8
PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW
“Bella Italia”, Pennsylvania Convention Center
March 6-8
RICHMOND HOME & GARDEN SHOW
“Green Spot”, sponsored by the James River Green Building Council at the Richmond
Raceway Complex
April 18
GET YOUR GREEN ON!
A Green Festival for the Whole Family sponsored by First Market Bank
4
A G L O S S A R Y O F E N V I R O N M E N TA L T E R M S
FO R “G R E E N ” R E S I D E N T I A L L A N D S C A P E
Volume T wo
For much of the information herein, we gratefully acknowledge references to H. Steven Dashefsky’s book,
Environmental Literacy: Everything You Need to Know About Saving Our Planet. New York: Random House,
1993; and Wikipedia.com. Thanks to Anne Henley, MLA and The Gentle Gardener for compiling the list.
Natural Swimming Pool: chemical free swimming pool designed
integrally with its natural surroundings so that it emulates a natural
pond; consists of a central deep area for swimming and a shallower
area with a small filter to extract debris, and specially selected
plants—of which about half are aquatics --for purifying the water.
Soil erosion: movement of soil by wind or water to another place;
occurs naturally as runoff from streams and rivers, and is exacerbated by
drought or flooding. It takes from200 -1,000 years to replenish one inch
of topsoil, which can be eroded away in just a few days.
Organic Fertilizer: three types of fertilizer derived from organic
matter, including animal manure, green manure (plants plowed into
the soil), and compost.
Soil texture: varying mixture of soil particles: sand, silt and clay. The
“ideal” soil, loam, consists of 40% each of sand and silt, and 20% clay.
“sandy” soil is at least 85% sand, and clay soils are at least 40% clay.
Permaculture: agro-ecological term coined by Australians Bill
Mollison and David Holmgren during the 1970s to promote selfsufficient human settlements that reduce society’s reliance on
industrial systems of production and distribution, which Mollison
identified as fundamentally and systematically destroying the earth’s
ecosystems.
Strip cropping: reducing soil erosion by alternating rows of crops to be
harvested with a row of cover crops, to be cultivated into the soil, to
absorb runoff from the main crop, enrich the soil, and minimize the
spread of pests and disease.
Permeable Paving: Key component in low impact development, in
which roads, parking lots and walkways are constructed of material
that allows stormwater to pass through it and infiltrate the soil below,
ultimately recharging aquifers.
Urban Heat Island: accumulated effects of cars, factories, furnaces,
asphalt, concrete, steel, and other construction materials that absorb and
retains vast amounts of heat, causing cities to be five to ten per cent
warmer in summer than the surrounding countryside.
Pesticides: over 4 billion pounds of pest killers are used annually
worldwide, often leaching into water sources. They account for over
50,000 cases of direct poisoning annually in the U.S. many of the
targeted pests become resistant through natural selection; and they
also kill predators which normally maintain manageable numbers of
harmful pests.
Water mining: meeting the demands of irrigation, residential, and
industrial uses by pumping water out of the ground faster than it is
replenished, thereby lowering the water table.
Rain Barrel: a container used to collect and store rainwater runoff,
typically from roofs via rain gutters; stored water can be used for
watering gardens, agriculture, flushing toilets, washing cars, and in
reducing dependence on municipal water sources.
Water Table: upper level of the “zone of saturation”(the area between
an aquifer and the surface of the earth) which is readily available for
human consumption; the zone of saturation contains forty times as much
water as all surface water combined.
Rain Garden: concept initiated in the 1990s in Missouri, constituting
a planted depression that absorbs rainwater runoff from impervious
areas (e.g. Roofs, driveways, walkways, and compacted lawn areas);
special types of plants are selected to withstand both drought and short
periods of inundation, thereby filtering pollutants, reducing runoff and
flooding, and improving the quantity and quality of groundwater.
Wetland: specific types of habitat representing among the highest levels
of diversity in the world, and containing some of the most productive
and useful ecosystems—minimizing flooding by storing excess water;
buffering coastlines from erosion; and filtering nutrients, thereby
maintaining water quality in rivers and streams; protected by tenets of
the Clean water Act.
Runoff: the portion of precipitation that is not absorbed by soil, and
washes away. Run-off from man-made storm drains often contains
pollutants including but not limited to gasoline, road salt, plastic
products, and residues from fertilizers and pesticides.
Wind power: the cleanest, least expensive and most efficient of
alternative energy sources.
Sludge: “thick, gooey mass of microbes, organic matter, and other
solids that is removed from wastewater in sewage treatment plants;
after treatment to remove toxins, can sometimes be transformed into
compost and building materials such as brick, cardboard, and paving
materials.”
Xeriscaping: term coined by combining xeros (the Greek word for dry)
with landscape, to refer to landscaping in ways that don’t require
substantial irrigation--especially promoted in areas lacking easily
accessible supplies of fresh water. The practice emphasizes site specific
plants which are managed for minimal water loss from evaporation and
runoff.
5
V S L D WINTER MEETING
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2009
GARI MELCHERS STUDIO PAVILION
FREDERICKSBURG, VA
PLEASE JOIN US FOR LUNCH, DESIGN AWARDS,
AND OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
GUEST SPEAKER: LISA E. DELPLACE
THE AESTHETICS OF SUSTAINABILITY
Beauty can be an overlooked factor in sustainability, but it is key to the success of this
movement and to the spread of sustainable practices around the region and across
the country. OVS is known for its environmental sensitivity but clients seek out the firm
for its signature New American Garden Style. Lisa E. Delplace will explain how
every project can be both beautiful and sustainable.
Lisa E. Delplace is a Principal and the CEO of Oehme, van Sweden (OvS) in Washington, DC. Her broad professional experience includes the design and execution of many of the firm’s notable works. On-going work includes
significant commissions for the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois. Ms. Delplace designs residential
gardens for clients around the world and current projects include an estate in Kiev, Ukraine. Her extensive
knowledge of ecological processes and deep commitment to their artistic execution result in a strong sculptural relationship between architecture and landscape. She is a registered landscape architect, a member of the
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and a Past-President of the Society’s Potomac Chapter.
A delicious lunch in a wonderful setting will be served at noon, followed by our annual
business meeting, awards presentation and guest speaker. Doors will open at 11:30.
More information at http://www.umw.edu/gari_melchers and www.ovsla.com.
Directions to Belmont: From I-95: Take Falmouth-Warrenton Exit 133A towards Falmouth. Follow US Route 17
1 ¼ mile to State Route 1001 (Washington Street, just before flashing light) and turn right.
The Belmont entrance will be on the right.
6
REGISTRATION FORM
2009 VSLD WINTER MEETING
NAME __________________________________________________________________
GUESTS NAME___________________________________________________________
VSLD MEMBERS ADDRESS________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
DAYTIME PHONE(S)______________________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS_________________________________________________________
________NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS @ $65.00 MEMBER/GUESTS = $__________
MAKE YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO VSLD
MAIL TO:
VSLD
C / O D E N I S E H A R G R AV E S
12252 LLAMA COURT
S O M E R S E T , VA 2 2 9 7 2
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM BY JANUARY 16, 2009
PLEASE CALL DENISE HARGRAVES @ 540 672 2462
FOR MORE INFORMATION
NO REFUNDS
7
5th ANNUAL VSLD
LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONTEST
Entry Categories
 Landscape plan / Built
 Landscape plan / Unbuilt
 Large scale plan /Built
(Over $75,000 )
 Members Choice
 Vignette / Built
 Vignette /Unbuilt
(Entries to be voted on by members attending
VSLD 2009 Winter Meeting. Entries will include
designs brought to meeting.)
Vignette may include any portion of a landscape
design. Entries may be sub-divided into like categories
prior to judging.
Judging Criteria








Entry Requirements
1. Landscape, Vignette, or Master Plan
Problem solving / effectiveness
Sustainability of plant material
Environmental impact
Creativity and ingenuity
Functionality
Maintenance considerations
Presentation
Overall impact
2. Written summary of project scope/
requirements
3. Identification of entry category
(see above)
4. Identification of sketches, computer
enhanced photos/ software, multimedia
etc. used
DUE DATE: Postmarked on or before January 15th, 2009
MAILING ADDRESS: VSLD Design Contest
Attn. To: Scott Creery, VSLD Vice President
11128 Verdon Road
Doswell, VA 23047
Materials will not be returned and may be used for VSLD publicity purposes. It is the designer’s
responsibility to obtain a media release from their client. Please list the publications, newspapers, etc.
where you would like a winning announcement to appear.
Awards will be presented at the 2009 VSLD Winter Meeting
8
O BITUARY
Henry Marcellus Cathey “Marc” Davidson – Dr.
Cathey, 79, of 400 Avinger Ln., Davidson, died October
8, 2008, at the Pines at Davidson following an extended
illness with Parkinson’s disease.
S AV E T H E DAT E
FEBRUARY 12,
2009
Born October 23, 1928, Dr. Cathey was the son of the
late Carl and Emily Cathey of Davidson. Following
graduation from Davidson High School in 1945, he
attended Davidson College for 2 years, and then he transferred to and he received his bachelor’s degree from the
North Carolina State University in 1950. He worked
as a florist in area two years before going to Cornell
University where he received his masters and Ph.D.
in Horticultural Science in 1955. He was a Fulbright
scholar in the Netherlands in 1955 and 1956. He went
to work for the US Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, MD, in 1956 where he pioneered experimental
research on florist and nursery crops. From 1980-81
he was the visiting DC Kiplinger Chair professor at the
Ohio State University.
For 10 years, starting in1981, Dr. Cathey was the
Director of the US National Arboretum in Washington,
D.C. During that period he brought new gardens and
exhibits including The National Bonsai and Penjing
Museum, the National Capital Columns, the Asian
Valley, the New American Friendship Gardens, and
sustainable gardens. He was instrumental in the
creation of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone and AHS
Plant Heat Zone Maps.
THE PIEDMONT L ANDSCAPE
ASSOCIATIONS’
26TH ANNUAL
CENTR AL VIRGINIA
L ANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT
SEMINAR
In 1995, he became President of the American Horticultural Society for the second time and later served
as President Emeritus. Dr. Cathey was a member of
numerous professional societies related to the florist
and nursery industry. He was awarded many national
and international awards for his work. He wrote several
books, made many television appearances, and hosted
a weekly radio phone in show for many years.
SPEAKERS:
PAMELA HARPER
FRANK UZEL
MICHAEL ABBOTT
KENNON WILLIAMS
CATRIONA TUDOR ERLER
He spent a lifetime of trying to make the world a
more beautiful place through flowers, plants, gardens,
research, and an imaginative and personal sense of
humor. He presented thousands of talks at national
floriculture meetings, garden clubs, community groups,
and more. He passionately believed that plants were at
the center of our future and lived by the words, “Green
is the color of hope, and in the color of plants is our
hope for the future”.
He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church.
He served as a deacon and elder.
(NEW LOCATION)
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Mary
Jackson Cathey and by his two children, Marcy E.
Cathey and her husband Aaron Frank of Bowie, MD, and
Henry M. Cathey, Jr. and his wife Jodi of Chincoteague,
VA. Four granddaughters, Emily, Ellen, Elizabeth, and
Sarah (Miss Pink, Miss Peach, Miss Emerald, and Miss
Ruby) also survive him.
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE UPDATES:
WWW.PIEDMONT-LANDSCAPE.ORG
Memorials may be sent to the American Horticultural
Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA
22308, the Davidson College Presbyterian Church, or the
Residence Assistance Fund at the Pines of Davidson.
9
2009 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course
January 25–30, 2009 • The Founders Inn and Spa, Virginia Beach, VA
The 2009 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course celebrates 40 years of horticulture education
with a dynamic program featuring 70 professional speakers presenting more than 160 Green
Industry sessions.
Featured Speakers
Dr. Jerzy Nowak, Virginia Tech Center for Peace Studies & Violence Prevention
The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr.,
former Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources & House of Delegates
Dr. Brian Kane, University of Massachusetts
Dr. Bernie Erven, Ohio State University, Professor Emeritus
Dr. Bob Lyons, University of Delaware, Longwood Gardens
Special Management Workshop:
Robert Hayter, ASLA, The Hayter Firm, Optimum Provision Management
Program and registration
available at mahsc.org
• Save time and money!
Receive all your industry
continuing education credits
at one conference
• Landscape Management advanced
& basic classes daily
• Landscape & Designer classes daily
• Plants & Production track for growers
• Crew manager certification classes
for new managers
Produced by
The Virginia Horticultural Foundation,
a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.
P.O. Box 64446
Virginia Beach, VA 23467
757-523-4734
[email protected]
10
MEMBER BULLETIN BOARD
NOTABLE NEWS & ANNO UNC E M EN TS
VSLD member, Kathy Duncan had an article in the July/Aug issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.
It was the cover story on grasses and she got to interview Wolfgang Oehme and Kurt Bluemel for it. And
thanks to her article there will be a VSLD ad in another issue.
Member, Patty Adkins, also wrote an article for the Washington Gardener Magazine. Her article also
appeared in the July/August issue and VSLD received a free ad in return for her penmanship which ran next
to the article.
The October issue of Virginia Gardener Magazine also has a member-written article in it and a ¼ page
VSLD advertisement. Michele Fletcher wrote about the landscape design that won her a 2007 VSLD
design award.
In the next Virginia Gardener (Nov./ Dec.) member Eve Willis will have an article published; she writes
about the 2008 VSLD design award winners in this issue and yet another VSLD ad will be included in it as
a result of her effort.
Thanks to all the member writers who have donated ads on behalf of VSLD. This publicity is invaluable
to our organization. Writing for these magazines is a wonderful opportunity, especially in this economic
climate, to get your name out in front of potential clients. And just a reminder but the next design award
application due date is in just three months coming up in January. Winning a VSLD Design award is another
great way to get noticed. For information on writing an article on design or on another landscape topic
contact the coordinator, Michele Fletcher at (540) 464-1599 or at [email protected]
GARDENING WITH EDIBLES
Fall is the time to prepare the vegetable garden for the next growing season, and this year you might want to
consider expanding your plot. VSLD member Lynn Ward advocates for edible landscaping and feels that with
the proper planning, it “is possible to grow beautiful, healthy and delicious foods in a visually pleasing and easily
managed landscape design”. “One of the greatest rewards to growing edibles”, Lynn says, “is that I know exactly
what has been done to produce the crops, i.e., no “sludge”, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. The foods are
harvested at peak ripeness for exquisite flavor.”
While dreaming of next years harvest, consider these tips from Lynn about gardening with edibles:
• Buy a bolt of black netting at a fabric store and wrap the fabric around your tomato plants. Leave the top open
for pollinators to be able to get to the blooms. The netting is virtually invisible and deters the deer from eating
the fruit. Use the same netting as a cover for kale, broccoli and cabbage to keep out the cabbage loopers and
subsequent caterpillars.
• When raspberries and blackberries are “coming in”, go out and
pick for a few minutes every evening. Then spread the berries out
on a tray in the freezer and bag them up the next day when you
repeat the process. Having gallons of hand picked organic berries
in the freezer, ready for topping ice cream or sherbet, or making
cobblers and pies, is well worth the process of picking the fruit.
•
Edibles in containers are also great for deck and patio
landscaping. Try growing Swiss Chard in a planter and when you
cut a few leaves to cook for dinner, the plants still look great and
replenish themselves to provide more leaves for another time. A
large planter with thyme, parsley, chives, oregano and rosemary is
a few steps from the kitchen and provides fresh herbs year-round.
An occasional good watering is easy to manage and also serves to
Lynn’s Kitchen September 2008
discourage (wash off) pests.
11
Alexandria, VA 22314
916 S. Alfred St.
VSLD MINI DIRECTORY
Secretary:
Jane Abbott
Simply Beautiful
(804)355-5211
[email protected]
Kathy Wulf
Green Leaf Gardens, LLC
(804)239-4639
[email protected]
Past President:
Vic Meadows
Meadows Farms Nursery
(540)786-7585
[email protected]
Directors:
Chris Coen
Nature’s Palette
(804)273-0259
[email protected]
Public Relations:
Denise Greene
Sassafras Farm
(804) 642-0923 (804)642-0923
[email protected]
Vice President:
Scott Creery
River City Gardens, LLC
(804)837-4062
[email protected]
Denise Hargraves
Denise Hargraves Designs
(540)672-2462
[email protected]
Webmaster:
Leigh Laclair
(804)784-0185
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Nanette H. Parsons
Garden Tenders
(804) 763-1908
[email protected]
Eve Willis
Eve’s Creative Landscape Design, LLC
(804)931-5489
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor:
Tiffany McCord
[email protected]
President:
Margaret Pavela
MAP Landscapes, LLC
(540)538-1591
[email protected]